Alexander Anderson, PharmD, MS
Hometown: Glenwood, MD
Pharmacy School: University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
Alexander chose AdventHealth for residency because of the many PGY2 opportunities available. Alexander is most excited for the warm weather, good food, and the Daytona 500. Alexander enjoys finding new restaurants, PC gaming, and weight lifting. Alexander is new to the Orlando area and hopes to explore the local national and state parks. Alexander's career goal post-residency is to pursue a PGY2.
Asya Bookal, PharmD
Hometown: Dania Beach, FL
Pharmacy School: Loma Linda University
Asya chose AdventHealth for residency after doing an APPE rotation with Dr. Jenny Sippel-Tompkins. This rotation allowed her to meet with various employees and see how much they are valued and cared for by the organization. From the conversations she had and the meetings she sat in, she could tell that AdventHealth was passionate about providing their patients with the best possible care and that was something she was excited to be a part of. Asya is most excited about all the growth that will come with this PGY-1 residency year. She is ready to take the next step in her healthcare journey, dive deeper into her passions, and further explore the world of pharmacy. She is also ready for all the challenges and hurdles that will come with residency because she knows that every battle she overcomes will only grow her and make her more confident in her abilities. Asya enjoys singing, going to amusement parks, trying out new food spots, but most importantly spending quality time with her friends and family. Being raised in sunny south florida, Asya is not new to the Orlando area. However, she is looking forward to being so close to Disney World and experiencing its magical moments with friends. She's also looking forward to catching up and spending more time with old friends and family in the area. Asya's career goal post residency is to potentially match into a cardiology PGY-2 program with the hope of working in cardiology in the ambulatory care space.
Grace Clark, PharmD, MPH
Hometown: Austin, TX
Pharmacy School: The University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy
Grace chose AdventHealth Orlando for residency because the hospital has tons of rotation options to choose from and all the preceptors were very welcoming during her interview. Grace is most excited to explore her areas of interest (Emergency Medicine and Critical Care) and get to know her co-residents better. Grace enjoys reading, baking, gardening, and going on walks/hikes. Grace just moved to Orlando and is excited to explore the beaches and wildlife preserves. Florida has lots of rare, native orchids and Grace is excited to go looking for them in places like the Everglades. She also got a membership to Leu Gardens and plans to visit often throughout the year. Grace's career goals post PGY1 are to explore a PGY2 in either Emergency Medicine or Critical Care. She would also like to become a preceptor within the next few years.
Inyeong (Laura) Choi, PharmD
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Pharmacy School: Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Boston campus
Dr. Choi chose AdventHealth Orlando for residency because of the diverse rotation opportunities and large residency class. Laura is most excited for getting to know many residents and preceptors as well as working on various projects. Laura enjoys watching baseball games, going to national parks, and doing water sports. Laura is new to the Orlando area, so very excited to try different lakes, beaches, and theme parks. Laura's career goals post-residency are to explore a PGY2 in Cardiology or Oncology. Laura wants to contribute to pharmacy meaningfully by continuing research and publishing articles.
Katherine Fonfara, PharmD
Hometown: Carmel, IN
Pharmacy School: Butler University
Katherine chose AdventHealth Orlando because of the unique rotation experiences, the large residency class size, and the excellent preceptors. Katherine is most excited to gain clinical pharmacy experience in many different areas by taking a wide range of rotations, and to form connections with her co-residents and preceptors. Outside of work, Katherine enjoys spending time with her friends, going to workout classes, and playing pickleball. Katherine is new to the Orlando area, so she is looking forward to exploring the city, trying new restaurants, and going to the theme parks. Katherine is still exploring her career options post-residency but is planning on pursuing a PGY2 in one of her areas of interest- internal medicine or critical care. She also is looking forward to precepting pharmacy students throughout her career.
Madiha Ali, PharmD
Hometown: Port St. Lucie, Florida
Pharmacy School: University of Florida - Gainesville Campus
Madiha chose AdventHealth Orlando for its supportive preceptors, the flexibility to tailor rotations to her interests, and the strong sense of community within a large residency class. She is most excited to develop her clinical skills through a wide range of rotations and to build lasting relationships with her co-residents and preceptors. Outside of work, Madiha enjoys reading, traveling, staying active through Orange Theory, and spending quality time with her family, loved ones, and her two cats. As a new Orlando resident, she’s looking forward to discovering hidden gems around the city and checking out local coffee shops and restaurants. While she is still exploring her long-term career path, she remains open to various opportunities and looks forward to precepting and mentoring future pharmacy learners in the future.
Mikayla Texido, PharmD
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
Pharmacy School: Duquesne University
Mikayla chose AdventHealth because of the large class size, unique elective opportunities, and the large patient population. Mikayla is looking forward to advancing towards her goals as a pharmacist, meeting new people, taking care of a broad range of patients, and forming connections with preceptors and other healthcare workers across AdventHealth. Outside of work, Mikayla enjoys hiking, traveling, and yoga. Mikayla is new to the Orlando area and is looking forward to going to the springs, finding nearby hikes, and taking a weekend trip to the beach. Mikayla's career goals post residency are to complete a PGY2 and become specialized in an area of interest. From there, she is also interested in becoming a preceptor and resource for future students and residents to achieve their goals.
Anna Ngo
Hometown: Vung Tau, Vietnam
Pharmacy School: University of Kansas
Anna chose AdventHealth for residency for the program's wide variety of rotation experiences, opportunities to care for diverse and complex patient population, and supportive learning environment that was evident from the very beginning. Anna is most excited to strengthen clinical knowledge, gain meaningful non-clinical experiences, and build lasting connections with her co-residents and preceptors throughout the year. Outside of work, Anna enjoys trying new coffee shops, going to pilates classes, and spending time with family and friends. Anna is new to Orlando area so she is looking forward to exploring natural springs and going to theme parks. Anna's career goals post-residency are to complete a PGY2 in her area of interest and become a board-certified clinical specialist. She is looking forward to contributing to the education of future pharmacists while driving quality improvement and evidence-based research.
Paola M. Reyes Serrano, PharmD
Hometown: Puerto Rico
Pharmacy School: Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy - NSU
Paola chose AdventHealth for residency because of its strong emphasis on clinical excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a mission-driven approach to patient care. She was impressed by AdventHealth’s commitment to wellness, professional development, and leadership growth—values that mirror her own goals. Paola is most excited to sharpen her clinical decision-making skills, collaborating with a strong interdisciplinary team, and caring for patients. She is also looking forward to getting to know her co-residents and preceptors. Most of all, she is excited to make meaningful contributions to patient care while continuing to learn every single day. Outside of work, Paola enjoys spending time with family and friends and traveling to new places. She also loves paddle boarding, going to museums, and baseball games. Paola is new to the Orlando area and is eager to discover everything the city has to offer. She's especially excited to explore the beautiful natural springs nearby, try out the diverse local food scene, and spend her days off enjoying the theme parks. Her career goals post-residency are to pursue a PGY2 in either emergency medicine or critical care, with the ultimate goal of practicing as a clinical pharmacist in a high-acuity hospital setting.
Rachel Peña, PharmD
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Pharmacy School: University of Florida - Orlando Campus
Rachel chose AdventHealth for residency because of the variety of rotations and experiences offered within the program and the large diverse patient population at the Orlando campus. Rachel is most excited about sharpening her skills to become a clinical pharmacist and working with her co-residents, RPD, and preceptors. She is also looking forward to hanging out with her co-residents outside of the pharmacy to show them around Orlando. Rachel enjoys gardening, film photography, and going to concerts and music festivals. Rachel is not new to the Orlando area but enjoys hanging out with friends and family and trying out new restaurants in Orlando. Rachel's career goals post PGY1 residency are to pursue a PGY2 in her interest of either infectious diseases or pediatrics.
Saumyaa Patel, PharmD
Hometown: Ahmedabad, India
Pharmacy School: The University of Texas at Austin
Saumyaa chose AdventHealth Orlando for her PGY1 residency because of its strong emphasis on pharmacists practicing at the top of their licenses, along with the various learning opportunities available to residents such as clinical staffing, diverse rotation options, and code coverage to name a few. During her interview, she was particularly impressed by the genuine warmth and supportiveness of the preceptors, and she felt that AdventHealth Orlando would be a place where she could grow comfortably and confidently as a new pharmacist. As a PGY1 resident, Saumyaa is most excited to engage in challenging clinical cases, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and continue developing the skills necessary to care for complex patients with both competency and compassion. Outside of pharmacy, Saumyaa can be found with a good audiobook or podcast in her ears, getting lost in a story or soaking up something new. She is also on a personal mission to visit every national park in the country, progressing slowly but surely, one trail at a time. New to the state, Saumyaa is excited to explore Florida’s natural landscapes. She is especially looking forward to spotting manatees at Blue Spring State Park, hiking in Ocala National Forest, visiting Everglades National Park, and taking a trip to the beaches of Panama City. Professionally, Saumyaa is particularly interested in oncology and plans to pursue a PGY2 residency in this field. In the long term, she aspires to contribute to improving patient outcomes and reducing the burden of morbidity and mortality for all her patients.
Maryam Alarfaj, PharmD
Hometown: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Pharmacy School: Pacific University
Maryam chose AdventHealth for residency because of its strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, creating a welcoming environment for residents from all backgrounds. The program offers a wide range of specialties, providing exposure to diverse clinical experiences and allowing for broad professional development. Being part of a large residency class also fosters a strong sense of community, collaboration, and peer support—enhancing both personal growth and clinical training. During the interview, Maryam felt an immediate connection with the preceptors and residents, whose warmth and authenticity made it clear that AdventHealth was a place where she could truly belong and thrive. This year, Maryam is most excited to build strong connections with her co-residents and immerse herself in diverse clinical and non-clinical experiences across specialties. She looks forward to growing professionally in a supportive environment and making a meaningful impact on patients' lives as part of the AdventHealth team. Maryam enjoys spending time in nature by going for peaceful walks outdoors, crocheting, and cooking—especially trying new recipes and sharing meals with loved ones. As someone new to the Orlando area, Maryam is excited to explore the city’s vibrant food scene, visit local parks, and experience popular attractions like the theme parks. She’s also looking forward to discovering hidden gems around Central Florida, spotting native wildlife like alligators in their natural habitats. Maryam’s career goals post-residency include completing a PGY-2 to further specialize and enhance her clinical expertise. She looks forward to working as a clinical pharmacist and using her skills to provide high-quality, patient-centered care while giving back to and serving her community.